Low Blood Sugar: Symptoms, Causes, and What to Do When It Happens

When your low blood sugar, a condition where glucose levels in the blood drop below what your body needs to function properly. Also known as hypoglycemia, it can happen to anyone—even people without diabetes—if meals are skipped, insulin is mismanaged, or intense exercise isn’t balanced with food. It’s not just a diabetic issue. It’s a biological alarm that says your brain isn’t getting enough fuel.

Your body runs on glucose. When levels fall below 70 mg/dL, you might feel shaky, sweaty, or dizzy. Your heart races. You get hungry, confused, or irritable. In severe cases, you can pass out or have seizures. This isn’t just "feeling a little off." It’s your nervous system screaming for sugar. People on insulin, a hormone that lowers blood sugar by helping cells absorb glucose are most at risk, especially if they take too much or eat less than usual. But even those using oral diabetes meds, skipping meals, or drinking alcohol on an empty stomach can trigger it. And hypoglycemia, the medical term for abnormally low blood sugar can sneak up fast—sometimes before you even notice symptoms.

What you do in those first minutes matters. Eating 15 grams of fast-acting sugar—like glucose tablets, juice, or candy—can bring levels back up. Wait 15 minutes. Check again. If it’s still low, repeat. Too many people reach for a candy bar or a big meal, which overshoots and causes a crash later. The key is precision, not punishment. And if you’re on meds that cause low blood sugar, you need to know your triggers: missed meals, too much exercise, alcohol, or even stress. Keeping a log of when it happens helps spot patterns. Your doctor can adjust your plan based on real data—not guesses.

Some of the posts below dig into how medications like insulin or sulfonylureas can cause sudden drops, how to tell if your symptoms are truly low sugar or something else, and what to do if you’re helping someone who passes out. Others explain why some people lose their warning signs over time, making hypoglycemia even more dangerous. You’ll find real advice on what to keep in your bag, what to tell coworkers, and how to avoid the cycle of highs and lows that make managing diabetes feel impossible. This isn’t theory. It’s what works when your blood sugar crashes at 3 p.m. or after a workout. You don’t need to guess anymore.